Cutting edge technology that could fast-track commercial production of high quality plant products will be on show at the Centre for Native Floriculture’s (CNF) first-ever Open Day this Thursday, 17 February.
Only recently installed, the new and potentially low cost system is being used to overcome production environment problems that have plagued the flower and nursery industry to date. Using microelectronic monitoring and radio-frequency communication, the system allows more consistent production of high quality, healthy plant products at the click of a computer key.
The technology was developed in a collaborative project with CSIRO’s ICT Centre and will be officially unveiled when Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for State Development and Innovation, Linda Lavarch MP, opens the CNF’s refurbished propagation greenhouse at 11.30am.
CNF Open Day coordinator Ian Gordon said the technology was just one of the research projects undertaken by the Centre since its establishment in early 2003.
“Queensland is home to 75 percent of Australia’s major vegetation types and 8,000 native flowering species, few of which are being commercially utilised and some of which are rare and endangered,” Mr Gordon said.
“Jointly funded by UQ and the Queensland Government, the CNF was set up at UQ Gatton to address that situation by helping to create an internationally competitive native floriculture industry here in Queensland.
“As part of that work, CNF is also assisting the transition from bush-harvesting in Crown forests to commercial production and propagating rare and endangered species to preserve our plant resources.
“We’re coordinating a range of research projects that includes value chain development between growers and the market, new product development, plant breeding, production and propagation, plant disease management, post-harvest handling and industry development.”
Mr Gordon said the Open Day was designed equally for established flower growers, those people investigating native flower production and those people simply wanting to learn about the Centre’s various projects and the native floriculture industry. The program also includes guided tours of UQ Gatton’s tissue culture laboratory and plant nursery facilities.
Venue: UQ Gatton Campus
Date: Thursday, 17 February
Time: 9.30am – Information sessions, Main Lecture Theatre
11.30am – Official opening, UQ Gatton Nursery
12.00pm – Guided tour of CNF facilities
Members of the public and media are welcome to attend.
More information: Ian Gordon, (07) 5460 1235 or mobile 0417.796.887
Brad Henderson, Marketing Coordinator, Faculty of NRAVS
(07) 5460 1229 or 0409.265.587
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